poetry Justice in History

Stewart Acuff, national organizer for 1199, brings a poet's eye to the struggle for social justice. Fear, he says, is "our humanity overcoming that fear."

Stewart Acuff Portside
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Justice in History
By Stewart Acuff

Justice has always been a struggle in our country

Just yesterday we celebrated Rosa Park's bus ride

And the Battle of Seattle anniversary

The strong or wanna be strong do not hide

We who pray for strength in the lonesome night

Who know what our call is but seek an out

Did Jesus not ask that the cup be passed in Gethsemane

We know the result of actions is a fight

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For that which defines what we are about

Fear is not weakness but our humanity

Overcoming that fear is the power of the inspired soul

And our place amongst the greats of our history

Stewart Acuff is the national organizing director of 1199, National Union of Hospital and Healthcare Employees.  He was the national organizing director of the AFL-CIO.  For 40 years he's organized all over America.  He's written two books, 1000 articles and blogs and 250 poems.